The Seward City Council passed a resolution during their Monday meeting to demolish the Jesse Lee Home for Children. The building was seen by the council as a hazard, and the City of Seward had already secured a state grant of over $1 million to turn the land into a commercially-viable property.
A preservation project to construct a memorial to the Jesse Lee Home on a future site was part of the resolution, with an intent to remind people about the history of the building.
The home is known as the home of the Alaska State Flag, which was designed at the home by Benny Benson.
Seward Mayor Christy Terry said that the history of the Jesse Lee Home can be preserved without the actual building remaining standing: “We’re talking about a building. We have the opportunity to preserve the history and the legacy of a very important structure to the Alaskan people. It doesn’t mean that we have to preserve the building. Within this grant, there ii a stipulation from SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) that we gather all of the records, we have those available, we make a brochure, so that people can research those, reference those, those will be kept in the permanent vault with the City of Seward. Information will be more easy for people to find. We have these Family After All books. Seward loves history. We want to preserve the legacy of this important institution in Seward.”
Mayor Terry added that what the city does with the land itself will be discussed in future community meetings: “We want to have a follow-up community meeting. This is a community issue that we want to find out what folks want to have on-site. I think a pavilion is a great idea, a playground. There are many people who talk about an homage with either a children’s museum or a day care. I think all of those things are important in preserving the importance of that site.”